Okay what is going on with all the OT Cast hate. I'm reading through some posts and people are saying they don't think some of the actors in the OT can carry an X-Men film. Why is there doubt about this? The OT have carried three X-Men films with each film they've appeared in performing better than the last at the Box Office and I expect that trend to continue with Days of Future Past and onwards.

Besides I don't think it's fair to say that the OT cast can't carry an X-Men film when they First Class cast weren't exactly huge stars back in 2011. Even if the OT couldn't carry an X-Men movie with their star power alone, which they can, then they have the added advantage of playing the iconic X-Men, the 'big guns' of the X-Men comic world.

Halle Berry is still an A list star and is a box office draw as demonstrated by her latest movie. She is probably the biggest female star of the Original Trilogy.

Anna Paquin is the face of True Blood, a Pop culture HBO series that has a large following.

Ellen Page is still well known as well and is still recognised for her most iconic role as Juno which earned her an Oscar nomination.

Plus there's Hugh Jackman. They together will be more than enough to draw audiences to come watch another X-Men film. And I don't know where people are getting this notion that an OT X-Men film without Patrick and Ian will somehow under-perform. Those two are not draws. Their appearance in an X-Men film are like bonuses, highlights but they are not needed to continue this franchise. They can make brief appearances/cameos in any future movies if need be. But the idea that the series will come to some of halt without them is unfounded. I don't think the GA go to see an X-Men film to just see Professor X and Magneto talk. Do you?

__________________X-MENAlone, You Are Mighty
Together, You Are LEGENDS!- PROFESSOR CHARLES XAVIER

But seriously though, for the most part, you're right. The main trilogy cast is the backbone of this film franchise for a number of reasons.

Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Jansen, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page > James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult in a lot of ways. That's not a knock on the new guys. The new guys all did amazing in their roles.

Honestly, as much as my preference is for the main trilogy cast, I find this movie to be a perfect opportunity to send off the original cast, and have them pass the torch to the new cast.

This movie is putting more emphasis on the First Class crew than the main trilogy crew, I feel like it's pretty clear that's the direction they wanna go.

They can introduce Cyclops as a new member of the First Class crew, and continue on with young versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm, and include guys like Beast and Gambit to round out the roster.

But, on the other hand, can you see them ditching Lawrence, Fassbender, McAvoy and Hoult?

Yes I can.

I feel like people give them too much credit but seriously, their star power didn't help First Class to sell. Actually the most well-known actors that appeared in First Class at that time were Hugh Jackman, Kevin Bacon and January Jones for her work in Mad Men. Maybe a First Class 3 film would sell more than First Class 1 but its not going to sell compare to a film featuring the OT cast.

And if could give the OT cast (except for Hugh Jackman) a break longer than 5 years, FOX could give the FC cast a long break too especially their characters that they are portraying are not that iconic compare to the OT cast are portraying.

If there is supposed to be some direct tie-in with FC3 and AoA (X5), then I think you would need to same director and the films would have to be shot back to back, under one creative vision. Summer 2017 and summer 2018. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense. You can't do a FC3 and then wait another 3 years for AoA and have the OT cast age another 6 years. That's just too much time, especially if they are barely featured in DoFP. Even if AoA predominantly features actors from the OT, I'd still try to incorporate flashbacks to past events, just to expand on FC3 and directly incorporate those elements into X5. I think that would be the only viable way to continue the franchise with both casts. The only way I see that happening is if DoFP is a near billion dollar grosser and Fox decides they have to lock up Singer for two more films, and of course he'd have the pull to bring back whomever he desires with all the good working relationships he has with this studio and actors.

While I think it is possible we get that scenario, I am going to wager DoFP ultimately doesn't end up doing that kind of business, and we get spinoff movies like X-Force. I still think FC3 is very likely, but they may give it a few years before coming back to that one, assuming everyone is still under contract. I think the OT is done, I really do.

I do think a big indicator that they want to continue more with the FC cast is that DOFP mostly features them. We know most of the movie takes place in 1973 so the FC cast will be the main characters with the OT characters mainly being cameo's.

This may well just be last hurrah to the OT cast before Fox moves on with more FC movies but we will have to see I suppose. The performance of the movie will be a big factor also.

I do think a big indicator that they want to continue more with the FC cast is that DOFP mostly features them. We know most of the movie takes place in 1973 so the FC cast will be the main characters with the OT characters mainly being cameo's.

This may well just be last hurrah to the OT cast before Fox moves on with more FC movies but we will have to see I suppose. The performance of the movie will be a big factor also.

You see the thing I don't get with that thinking is why Fox would bother to pay eight different actor salaries in order for them to have just small roles in a film mainly about the FC, if it isn't to stage a comeback for the OT. I'm more inclined to believe that DOFP lays the foundation for the OT to return in a fixed timeline without all the glaring continuity errors and also paves the way for certain characters to come back.

I mean really and truly there is no other reason. If the studio believes in the first class cast enough to continue the franchise with only them then they really don't need the presence of the OT at all. However, If DOFP is the stepping stone for other OT movies then this would be the perfect opportunity for audiences to re familiarise themselves or in some cases be introduced to the OT characters before they feature in a movie of their own.

That's how I see it anyway.

__________________X-MENAlone, You Are Mighty
Together, You Are LEGENDS!- PROFESSOR CHARLES XAVIER

And I agree with NanaT, if FOX is so confident moving forward with the FC cast, why bring them back to give the OT cast a last hurray? Its not really needed if they are just gonna move forward with the FC cast after this movie. They could have just continued where First Class left off and bring back the entire cast (except for the ones who left/died).

First Class under-performed in 2011, it still made a profit, but it under-performed, I have thought from the start they chose this storyline to bring back the OT cast for one final hurrah while also boosting the BO receipts for a FC sequel.

Then FC3 can make a profit on its own without the help of the OT. That was my initial impression when the OT cast came back and it is still my impression now.

First Class under-performed in 2011, it still made a profit, but it under-performed, I have thought from the start they chose this storyline to bring back the OT cast for one final hurrah while also boosting the BO receipts for a FC sequel.

Then FC3 can make a profit on its own without the help of the OT. That was my initial impression when the OT cast came back and it is still my impression now.

So they are using the OT cast so a film featuring the FC cast would sell more. Then they will dump the OT cast after DOFP?

Thats not a good strategy. If the OT cast is the one that will really get the mainstream viewers to watch a X-Men movie then they should be making more films with them.

EDIT: And if FOX is just gonna use the OT cast to boost the FC cast, why didn't they bring back the majority of the FC cast? Especially Emma Frost?! The line-up that they have for the future/modern-day world is bigger than their line-up for the 70s.

I also don't see why they cast the majority of the new mutants around the same age as Paquin, Ashmore, Cudmore, Page and the other teenagers from the OT.

I don't see why they would cast Blink, Bishop, Sunspot etc. in their early 30's when almost all the students in FC are now 23 if they're going to dump the OT after DOFP. Even if fans don't warm to the new mutants and they aren't to feature in future films, it seems pretty strange.

They are setting up possible X-Force links. It's that simple. Plus most of the new mutants are plot devices for time travel and not major characters in the story it would appear.

I think this is Stewart and McKellan's last go around. The other OT actors have supporting roles and were on the set for a few weeks tops. Who doesn't need the exposure in Hollywood these days? Not like this project was beneath the likes of Anna and Halle. They need exposure and this is arguably the biggest film of the summer next year.

I'm 80% sure it's done after this. FC3 will be the stepping stone for the future.

a huge part of this film will depend on the performances of Mcavoy and fassbender thats for sure

the OT were brought back to turn this into a cross over story, singer is taking a page out of marvels books by technically making this a sequel to 2 or 3 previous films, and given the budget fox are putting into this film they do want to make something as big as the avengers

You see the thing I don't get with that thinking is why Fox would bother to pay eight different actor salaries in order for them to have just small roles in a film mainly about the FC, if it isn't to stage a comeback for the OT. I'm more inclined to believe that DOFP lays the foundation for the OT to return in a fixed timeline without all the glaring continuity errors and also paves the way for certain characters to come back.

Fox and producers now know perfectly the potential the fanchise has right now, with both casts. So no way they will get rid of any of the two casts. Not when Singer is back and all the OT actors are open to do more movies.

So they are using the OT cast so a film featuring the FC cast would sell more. Then they will dump the OT cast after DOFP?

Thats not a good strategy. If the OT cast is the one that will really get the mainstream viewers to watch a X-Men movie then they should be making more films with them.

EDIT: And if FOX is just gonna use the OT cast to boost the FC cast, why didn't they bring back the majority of the FC cast? Especially Emma Frost?! The line-up that they have for the future/modern-day world is bigger than their line-up for the 70s.

Emma Frost wasnt coming back once January Jones had her little affair with Matthew Vaughn, that was clear from the start, also the likes of Azazel and Angel arent exactly fan favourites, they could be dumped with no consequences. I think any FC sequel wouldnt have had these characters personally.

If FC had made $200 million domestic and not $145 though, I think a direct sequel to that would have been made and we wouldnt be getting DOFP personally. I think they felt that the FC movies needed a little star- power boost and they knew they had this great story which would bring back fan favourites to boost the BO and anticipation.

I think what has happened SINCE the initial announcement and the excitement the OT cast have brought they are now thinking more about bringing them back again, but I think the FC cast are still the priority personally.

Fox and producers now know perfectly the potential the fanchise has right now, with both casts. So no way they will get rid of any of the two casts. Not when Singer is back and all the OT actors are open to do more movies.

They have a goldmine, so they will exploit it more than ever.

As I said above, I personally think that is because they have seen the fan reaction to the OC coming back and want to drum it up even more by saying the OC could possibly come back again.

Fox and producers now know perfectly the potential the fanchise has right now, with both casts. So no way they will get rid of any of the two casts. Not when Singer is back and all the OT actors are open to do more movies.

They have a goldmine, so they will exploit it more than ever.

No... they have a goldmine if this does 8-900 million at the box office. Until a film in this franchise does those kinds of numbers, this is a fallacy. It very well could, in which case I'd expect both FC3 and X5.

TLS did not break even at the box office. You have to triple your budget WW to do that. TLS cost well north of 200 million and only netter 450ish, with only half of that coming domestically. That is not the numbers Fox was looking for and it basically snared the franchise for a while. That's why they had to start scaling things down with spinoffs.